"While traveling from the east coast of the island we came upon a familiar site, a Hindu temple on our left and a Christian church directly opposite it.My driver had just explained to me that he followed multiple religions and considered himself Christian, Muslim and Hindu. Coming from a country where there are strict Christian beliefs (often times to an extremest or fanatical level) this concept was almost inconceivable to me.As we were in discussion we came upon this site. Curiousity got the best of me and so I decided to go inside and learn more about the Hindu faith and the pluralistic religiousity in Trinidad.There were a few women inside preparing for a wedding which was to take place that day. I went in and explained my intentions. Immediately an older lady greeted me and entertained my quest for knowledge and spiritual understanding. She began in song... "

Lady: So I want to sing you an English song. Like is the universal thing like... This world is like a mud pond and it have a beautiful lotus flowers. So I going to sing a song on that:

In the mud of a pond, a lotus
In the pollen of a flower, honey
In the mud of a pond, a lotus
In the pollen of a flower, honey
In the navel of a deer, musk
In the navel of a deer, musk
In the body, God.

Make love your life
Make love your deity
Become a love addict
If you cannot like love
You are not a human.

Love all as yourself
Be completely without desire
Love without desire is true worship.

When a lump of salt is dissolved in the ocean, it gives up the saltiness and become the ocean. When identification of the body is dissolved, man become God.

Everyone is together... Muslim, Hindu, Christian. Everybody is one because we come to the...God realization. Is only God in this world. They say, "Renounce...do not renounce the world, renounce the illusion of the world" and then we will be a happy... it will be... Paradise will come the same time but right now, over here have plenty, you know...ahm... problem. Young children... they kidnapping young children. They beating old people and like that. Right? Now that is going on in Trinidad. But all the temple and churches they trying to get together for oneness.

KM: Why do you think all this crime is happening though?

Lady: Uh hmm, yuh see?... God make all of us. He make good and bad, eh? Is God who make good and bad. If you...if you do good, there is place where they call Paradise. And if you do wrong things, well, you go...go to Hell. Right. We have the Bible, we have the Qur'an, we have the Ramayana and all the books that...what they have giving out as like... like how God give out commandments. All the books telling you the same thing. Right?

KM: Uhmm. So that's universal?

Lady: Eh?KM: It's universal?

Lady: Universal!

KM: Across all the religions...most

Lady: Oh, everyone! If the church have something and they invite us, we go. If we have something...

KM: OK...the Christian church you mean?...the Christian church?

Lady: Christian church or Muslim church or Yahweh church or you name it because we don't know you too eh? And you come to our church. I can't tell you, "Well, you know, you go, go, go, go from here! You's not... you not belongs to here!" No!

So, what you think about it? Is good? [Laughter]

END

Source: The lyrics posted on this blog are often transcribed directly from performances. Although it is my intention to faithfully transcribe I do not get all the words and I have a knack for hearing the wrong thing. Please feel free to correct me or to fill in the words that I miss by dropping me a message via e-mail. I'd be forever grateful. Thanks in advance!
.............................................................................................

A Note From The Gull

"When a lump of salt is dissolved in the ocean, it gives up the saltiness and becomes the ocean. When identification of the body is dissolved, man becomes God. "

Brilliant words for me. Since I viewed this video, I cannot stop thinking about this lady. I have no idea who she is but I'd be her neighbour any day. Would she laugh at me if I were to tell her that she is a leader?

I haven't much patience with the vain and the egotistical, the jostling chiefs who don't have a clue but only the audacity to present themselves as leaders. Every one of them has an agenda but these agendas never include everyone.

Chief Red Cloud, who was known best for being the war leader of the Oglala Lakota Sioux said this about himself:

"I am poor and naked, but I am the chief of the nation. We do not want riches but we do want to train our children right. Riches would do us no good. We could not take them with us to the other world. We do not want riches. We want peace and love."

When you find the person who can say this with sincerity, that person will be your leader.

This person however, will not come forward of his or her own accord because leaders like these are to be found always among those happily working in the background.

You will have to call this servant-leader out.

But first you will have to prepare your hearts to recognise this leader.

Can you see LOVE?

Through all the noise, thank you so much, Kishan Munroe, for allowing Peace to speak to us. I bow low with gratitude.

"Patria est communis omnium parens" - Our native land is the common parent of us all. Keep it beautiful, make it even more so.

Blessed is all of creation
Blessed be my beautiful people
Blessed be the day of our awakening
Blessed is my country
Blessed are her patient hills.

Neighbour, look, if I was selfish manI wouldn't be involved in this electionI done old already, I ent want famePlus I ent looking for fortune againAll I asking is that you pay close attention toThe many problems we all face from dawn to dawnYou're intelligent, I think, and you should face issuesBut you behaving like a moron, cussin' me fuh wey I born

But yuh pipe ent have no water, you pay too much for butter[Take yuh steel beam and go!]The terrible school system is such a bloody problem[Take yuh steel beam and go!]Agriculture's in a state, planning is inadequate[Take yuh steel beam and go!]The northern and southern idol, the two kingpins of bobbolWe know. We like it so!

[We like it so...We free!]

Anything that's wrong, he go put it rightGeorgie Porgy tell we the other nightSo instead of displaying impatienceCool yourself and gih de fellah a chanceHow the hell you could say O.N.R. go do better?Bet we send you back Grenada in a drumWe and Georgie going to put it right togetherWe have freeness and freedom, plenty roti, plenty rum.

Hospitals have no linen, is brown paper they using[Take yuh steel beam and go!]Public transportation is an abomination[Take yuh steel beam and go!]Well, food, clothes and rent is proofCost of living gone through the roof[Take yuh steel beam and go!]Classified information for personal gain is commonWe know but we like it so!

[We like it so We free!]

Sparrow boy, you need psychiatric aidTo be in them bourgeois people motorcadeMe ent fraid to tell you straight to yuh faceYou backing a jackass in a horse raceGeorgie say all you ent getting one damn seatO.N.R. come out to mamaguyAnd Bokassa say how allyuh going to feel the heatThe penalty to oppose is high, that's political suicide.

We have no house so we squat, living with cockroach and rat[Take yuh steel beam and go!]The cesspit flowing over, you could catch yellow fever[Take yuh steel beam and go!]Soldier in bulldozer break down mih shack in Morvant[Take yuh steel beam and go!]Is plenty sexual favours to be a ten days workerWe know but we like it so!

[We like it so, We free!]

It ent have a single thing you could sayCould make me abandon mih balisierNo steel beam go fall down on top mih headSparrow, I's a P.N.M. 'til ah deadBirdie you may be shock when ah tell you thisHudson-Phillips is a Yankee C.I.A.And the whole ah O.N.R. is only communistsThey'll take Carnival away and make people work each day.

Is years you in ah union and can't get recognition...she say[Take yuh steel beam and go!]The unemployment levy murdering everybody[Take yuh steel beam and go!]Children come out ah college below elementary knowledge[Take yuh steel beam and go!]We grieving with frustration through maladministrationWe know but we like it so!

[We like it so. We free!]

This concern that you showing here for weCould well cost you your popularityFrancisco, how come you ent understand?We ent want no blasted oppositionYes, just like Georgie Porgy, I done sharpen my gilpinWaiting for the opposition tailAnd anytime we catch them only backpedalingI ent even want no bail, I ent 'fraid to make ah jail.

Food you could produce here is imported from elsewhere[Take yuh steel beam and go!]To fish in yuh own water is jail in Venezuela[Take yuh steel beam and go!]No one to devise for we a good foreign policy[Take yuh steel beam and go!]Bribery and corruption control every decisionWe know but we like it so!

[We like it so. We free!]

Source: The lyrics posted on this blog are often transcribed directly from performances. Although it is my intention to faithfully transcribe I do not get all the words and I have a knack for hearing the wrong thing. Please feel free to correct me or to fill in the words that I miss by dropping me a message via e-mail. I'd be forever grateful. Thanks in advance!.............................................................................................

A Note From The Gull

To add my comment would be a desecration. Thank you, Mighty Sparrow.

"Patria est communis omnium parens" - Our native land is the common parent of us all. Keep it beautiful, make it even more so.

Blessed is all of creationBlessed be my beautiful peopleBlessed be the day of our awakeningBlessed is my countryBlessed are her patient hills.

Everyday you read the paper
Somebody dead, they can't find the murderer
Everyday you read the paper
Somebody dead, they can't find the murderer
Everybody asking the same question
"Why it have so much ah crime in this island?"
If you really want to know what they fighting for
Some people have too much and some too poor...especially

The high cost of living, lord!
Higher than a mountain
People like me and you so
Have to stand up and watch the goods at Hi-Lo.

Just imagine you are not working
You have a wife and two children starving
But over by neighbour Chung Lee
No chick, no child, he pack up with money
A man like me will try to stick mih grind
But everybody cannot have the same mind
By this alone I want everybody to see
The majority of crime is through poverty...because

The high cost of living, lord!
Higher than a mountain
People like me and you so
Have to stand up and watch the goods at Hi-Lo.

Some people sleeping on the pavement
Some again, twenty-five apartment
Some working for two dollars a day
Some can't count their money when they get pay
The government have a right to see to this
Put a stopping to all this foolishness
See that a poor man get work, a good salary
To maintain himself and his family... especially nowadays

The high cost of living, lord!
Higher than a mountain
People like me and you so
Have to stand up and watch the goods at Hi-Lo.

Many days a man may be bawling
Wake up in the morning, he ent have a shilling
Perhaps his wife might have a baby
Sick in bed or as the case may be
It have a lot of people in that position T
hey are really in deep suffocation
If the authorities don't lend a helping hand
The poorer class will sure die from starvation...because

The high cost of living, murder!
Higher than a mountain
People like me and you so
Have to stand up and watch the goods at Hi-Lo.

Source: The lyrics posted on this blog are often transcribed directly from performances. Although it is my intention to faithfully transcribe I do not get all the words and I have a knack for hearing the wrong thing. Please feel free to correct me or to fill in the words that I miss by dropping me a message via e-mail. I'd be forever grateful. Thanks in advance! .............................................................................................

A Note From The Gull

Thank you, Mighty Sparrow.

I read over at Ice Records that this was the Mighty Sparrow's first social commentary. How far have we come since that song was first sung fifty-three years ago? Hard times and good times come and they go and so do humans. Is that all there is? We just continue to be born to contribute to circumstances and to react to them whether positively or negatively?

Sometimes I think that our recorded histories, our grand summaries and declarations are just our field notes as we continue to observe and document our plight over time. We are not meant to use these to change ourselves or to figure out the code that holds the key to our evolution. Maybe there is no need for evolution. That's another fantasy perhaps? Maybe we are as good as we will ever be and ALL our troubles stem from our trying to outdo, to improve on NATURE.

"Patria est communis omnium parens" - Our native land is the common parent of us all. Keep it beautiful, make it even more so.

Blessed is all of creation
Blessed be my beautiful people
Blessed be the day of our awakening
Blessed is my country
Blessed are her patient hills.

Helpless and frustrated, hopelessly deflatedLook we hanging on, catching hell but strongAll the cash gone out ah we country------------------------- we easyWe can't beg a friend, he ent have to lendRecession bussing we waist, watching Basil face to faceWe must find a solution to ease the situationFor the survival of this nation. [right now!]Is dog eat dog as we pull and tugHoping one day lord, we'll succumbLet's call on St. Peter to wait a while longerIf things don't get better, then we'll come.

Back to agriculture, presently that too doesn't matterEndless apathy pervades this countryGovernment, you should be listeningA whole country you have protestingIn this guava time, man forced into crimeWould be nice to purchase plants to enhance we existenceBut right now we spinning top in a mud bank wey can't full upWithout money, we can't get cropThis old woman, she say, "Listen, sonThe few cents I have will soon done.Prices going up while mih pension dropWhen you miss me, son, Granny gone."

Unemployed and starving, hunger pains attackingWatch your hair each day turn from black to greyWatch your money dwindle, to replace it is not possibleYou could march all day or kneel down and prayWatch your mortgage on the rise, Mister PM realiseSelfishness and arrogance could put we all in St. AnnsOr walking the streets like vagrants. [same thing!]The bourgeoisie banking overseasStill milking the land high and dryMalnutrition shows, is no food and clothesWhat next, no one knows but to cry...

Took the li'l food from children classesNow you threatening their bus passesKids destined to fail and could go to jailOur problem here is poverty plus the lack of work and salaryForget about oil, is back to the soilLet us make determined plans, let us cultivate the landLet us educate the man for the future generationTo rebuild this fantastic landIs hard for so here in TrinbagoThe li'l bit we have will soon endSo let we ban we jaw, together rich and poorSo we will overcome these pains, my friend.

We shall overcome one day, T&TWe shall overcomeWe shall overcome one day, T&TWe shall overcome!We shall overcome one day, T&TWe shall overcomeWe shall overcome one day, T&TWe shall overcome!...Source: The lyrics posted on this blog are often transcribed directly from performances. Although it is my intention to faithfully transcribe I do not get all the words and I have a knack for hearing the wrong thing. Please feel free to correct me or to fill in the words that I miss by dropping me a message via e-mail. I'd be forever grateful. Thanks in advance!.............................................................................................

A Note From The Gull

Thank you, Jayson.

"Patria est communis omnium parens" - Our native land is the common parent of us all. Keep it beautiful, make it even more so.

Blessed is all of creationBlessed be my beautiful peopleBlessed be the day of our awakeningBlessed is my countryBlessed are her patient hills.

If this little proverb you would understandYou would lend your brothers a helping handIf this little proverb you would understandYou would lend your brothers a helping handWhether you are white, pink, blue or blackYou have got to reach the six feet of earth and that's thatWhether you agree or you should disagreeStill I'm pretty certain that you will agree with meSinging life would be easier and time would be breezierIF you love your neighbour.

If you study the Lord's teachings you will findThe Sermon on the Mount can save mankindAnd make life a whole lot easierIF you love your neighbour.

We all know there is ideal happiness aboveWhich arises from the presence of brotherly loveSo if of the joys of heaven you like to partakeThis an example you should strive to emulateResist all temptations and refrain from strifeAnd try to lead a noble and an upright lifeAnd this too you must learn, to make the best of what you earnAnd strictly learn to leave your brother's property aloneThen life would be easier and time would be breezierIF you love your neighbour.

If you study the Lord's teachings you will findThe Sermon on the Mount can save mankindAnd make life a whole lot easierIF you love your neighbour.

I can speak with biblical veracityThat love's a passion sponsored by the divinityAnd so we all should endeavour assiduouslyTo walk in the paths of virtue and humilityFor he that humbleth himself shall exalted beAnd humbled will be he whose failing is vanitySo whatever we do we we should keep in mind this viewThat the other man is worth quite as much or more than youAnd life would be easier and time would be breezierIF you love your neighbour.

If you study the Lord's teachings you will findThe Sermon on the Mount can save mankindAnd make life a whole lot easierIF you love your neighbour.

Source:The lyrics posted on this blog are often transcribed directly from performances. Although it is my intention to faithfully transcribe I do not get all the words and I have a knack for hearing the wrong thing. Please feel free to correct me or to fill in the words that I miss by dropping me a message via e-mail. I'd be forever grateful. Thanks in advance!..............................................................................................................A Note From The Gull

What a beautiful song! Are any of these meaningful and uplifting songs being played by the radio stations? Thank you, Roaring Lion.

"Patria est communis omnium parens" - Our native land is the common parent of us all. Keep it beautiful, make it even more so.

Blessed is all of creationBlessed be my beautiful peopleBlessed be the day of our awakeningBlessed is my countryBlessed are her patient hills.

Long time ago in BethlehemSo the Holy Bible sayMary's boy child, Jesus ChristWas born on Christmas day.

Hark, now hear the angels singA new King born todayAnd man will live forever moreBecause of Christmas day.

While shepherds watched their flock by nightAnd see a bright new shining starAnd hear a choir singThe music seem to come from afar.

Now Joseph and his wife MaryCome to Bethlehem that nightAnd find no place to borne she childNot a single room was in sight.

Hark, now hear the angels singA new King born todayAnd man will live forever moreBecause of Christmas day.

By and by they find a little nookIn a stable all forlornAnd in a manger cold and darkMary's little boy was born.

Hark, now hear the angels singA new King born todayAnd man will live forever moreBecause of Christmas day.

Source:N.B. The lyrics posted on this blog are often transcribed directly from performances. Although it is my intention to faithfully transcribe I do not get all the words and I have a knack for hearing the wrong thing. Please feel free to correct me or to fill in the words that I miss by dropping me a message via e-mail. I'd be forever grateful. Thanks in advance!.............................................................................................

A Note From The Gull

Thank you, Harry Belafonte.

"Patria est communis omnium parens" - Our native land is the common parent of us all. Keep it beautiful, make it even more so.

Blessed is all of creationBlessed be my beautiful peopleBlessed be the day of our awakeningBlessed is my countryBlessed are her patient hills.

It's the Christmas season in Tobago and TrinidadThere is not a reason why everybody shouldn't be gladNow ease the tension, not to mentionThe air of sorrow and sweatThe adoration, no frustration, we going to fete

We go dance, we go dance, we go danceIt's Christmas, we come out to danceWe go dance, we go danceIt's Christmas, we come out to danceWe go dance, we go danceIt's Christmas, we come out to danceWe go dance, we go danceIt's Christmas, we come out to dance!

We should all be happy on this blessed mornRejoice and be merry, Jesus Christ is bornLet your love light shine with goodwill and peace for allKeep this message in mind and we go have a ball

We go dance, we go dance, we go danceIt's Christmas, we come out to danceWe go dance, we go danceIt's Christmas, we come out to danceWe go shake marac in parang[It's Christmas, we come out to dance]Eating fruit cake and boiled ham[It's Christmas, we come out to dance]When you hear the boom-boom of the box bass[It's Christmas, we come out to dance]Grab your partner, swing all over the place!

We go dance, we go dance, we go danceIt's Christmas, we come out to danceWe go dance, we go danceIt's Christmas, we come out to dance

[Dance, dance, dance] we come out to dance[Dance, dance, dance] we come out to dance[Dance, dance, dance] we come out to dance[Dance, dance] dance!

And now at this juncture, we solemnly declareTo keep this Christmas feeling now and throughout the yearIt's not only at Christmas time these loving things to doWe'll keep on doing these Christmas things now and the whole year through

We go dance, we go dance, we go danceIt's Christmas, we come out to danceWe go dance, we go danceIt's Christmas, we come out to danceWe go shake marac in parang[It's Christmas, we come out to dance]Eating fruit cake and boiled ham[It's Christmas, we come out to dance]When you hear the boom-boom of the box bass[It's Christmas, we come out to dance]Grab your partner, swing all over the place!

We go dance, we go dance, we go danceIt's Christmas, we come out to danceWe go dance, we go danceIt's Christmas, we come out to dance!

Time to heat up the tempo, everybody jump up and danceHold your partner, don't let go, we come out to pranceChristmas is a happy time, forget your worry and careThis would be a fun time to wave your hand in the air

So leh we dance, leh we dance, leh we danceIt's Christmas, we come out to danceLeh we dance, leh we danceIt's Christmas, we come out to danceWe go shake marac in parang[It's Christmas, we come out to dance]Eating fruit cake and boiled ham[It's Christmas, we come out to dance]When you hear the boom-boom of the box bass[It's Christmas, we come out to dance]Grab your partner, swing all over the place

So leh we dance, leh we dance, leh we danceIt's Christmas, we come out to danceLeh we dance, leh we danceIt's Christmas, we come out to danceLeh we dance, leh we danceIts Christmas, we come out to dance,Leh we dance, leh we danceIt's Christmas, we come out to dance!

[Dance, dance, dance] It's Christmas, we come out to dance[Dance, dance, dance] It's Christmas, we come out to dance[Dance, dance, dance] It's Christmas, we come out to dance[Dance, dance, dance] It's Christmas, we come out to dance

We go shake marac in parang, we come out to danceBring yuh partner, come leh we jam, we come to danceWith the boom-boom on the box bass, we come out to danceWe go swing all over de place!

Source:N.B. The lyrics posted on this blog are often transcribed directly from performances. Although it is my intention to faithfully transcribe I do not get all the words and I have a knack for hearing the wrong thing. Please feel free to correct me or to fill in the words that I miss by dropping me a message via e-mail. I'd be forever grateful. Thanks in advance!.............................................................................................

A Note From The Gull

Thank you, Susan.

"Patria est communis omnium parens" - Our native land is the common parent of us all. Keep it beautiful, make it even more so.

Blessed is all of creationBlessed be my beautiful peopleBlessed be the day of our awakeningBlessed is my countryBlessed are her patient hills.

I took this photo of a Christmas ornament in the snow about eleven months ago. It is the same outside now so...

May you find the beauty in whatever Christmas weather you are experiencing.May you have the option, if you are snowed under, of coming in from the cold.May all the homeless people everywhere, especially where Christmases or innkeepers' hearts are cold or afraid, find doors that will open to them.May those Trinbagonians inside of Trinbago who feel like outsiders in their own skins or homes or neighbourhoods or country and those Trinbagonians abroad who want to return home, all find a way to come in from whatever coldness they are experiencing.

Until then, you are not alone. As Bob Marley says, "Well, the biggest, biggest man you ever, ever did see was ah, was ah once a baby." Bob Marley might not have been thinking about the Son of Man, but tonight I am thinking about the baby Jesus and the doors that were shut to Him, about His birth outside in the open manger and His words later, "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." -- Matthew 8:20 New American Standard Bible (1995)

Until you find, or return to, the place that you can call your home, may you feel at home in the places where you find yourselves, knowing that we all are in one way or another, nomads...we are all trying to come in from the cold.

This is what I am thinking about this Christmas and Bob Marley's "Coming In From The Cold" says it best for me. Christmas blessings to all.

COMING IN FROM THE COLDBy Bob Marley

In this life, in this life, in this life,In this, oh sweet life:We're [coming in from the cold]We're coming in [coming in], coming in [coming in],Coming in [coming in], coming in [coming in],Coming in from the cold.

It's you, it's you, it's you I'm talking toWell, you [it's you], you [it's you], you I'm talking to now.Why do you look so sad and forsaken?When one door is closed, don't you know, another is open?

Would you let the system make you kill your brotherman?No, no, no, no, no, no! No, Dread, no!Would you make the system make you kill your brotherman?[No, Dread, no!]Would you make the system get on top your head again?[No, Dread, no!]Well, the biggest man you ever did see was, was just a baby.

In this life [in this life, in this life],In this [in this life, oh sweet life]Coming in from the coldWe're coming in [coming in], coming in [coming in],coming in [coming in], ooh! [coming in]Coming in from the cold!

It's life [it's life], it's life [it's life], it's life [it's life]It's, wah, well, coming in from the cold!We're coming in [coming in], coming in (coming in]ooh [coming in], hey! [coming in],Coming in from the cold!

It's you, you, you I'm talkingWell, yes, you, [it's you]Ow! You, I'm talking to now.Girl, why do you look so look so, look so sad, look so sad and forsaken?Don't you know, When one door is closed, when one door is closed,many more is open?

Well, would you let the system get on top your head again?No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, Dread, no!Would you let the system make you kill your brotherman?No, Dread, no!Well, would you make the system get on top your head again?[No, Dread, no!] No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no!Well, the biggest, biggest man you ever, ever did seewas ah, was ah once a baby.

In this life, in this life, in this life,In this, oh, sweet life,We're [coming in from the cold] from the cold!We're coming in [coming in], coming in [coming in],coming in [coming in], wo-o! Yea-ea-eah!Coming in from the cold

Source:N.B. The lyrics posted on this blog are often transcribed directly from performances. Although it is my intention to faithfully transcribe I do not get all the words and I have a knack for hearing the wrong thing. Please feel free to correct me or to fill in the words that I miss by dropping me a message via e-mail. I'd be forever grateful. Thanks in advance!.............................................................................................

"Patria est communis omnium parens" - Our native land is the common parent of us all. Keep it beautiful, make it even more so.

Blessed is all of creationBlessed be my beautiful peopleBlessed be the day of our awakeningBlessed is my countryBlessed are her patient hills.

It had a big parang festival way up in Paramin
I hear de people call for me, they want to hear me sing
When I gone up to do my show, I get a big round of applause
People start to jump and scream, man, it raise my pores.
Well, now I start to get on bad, I sing all mih songs that they know
A woman in front shout, "Myron B, give we one in Spanish also."
But they didn't know I cyah sing in Spanish, oh lawd!
But my fans request mih, I cannot disappoint them at all...So hear me!

I went to Maracas -------- in my old sapatas, senores, senoras,
Sing the chorus with I - [La-la-lay, lai, lai]
Then I went to mi casa, eat two ripe banana with mucho bandanya
So sing de chorus with I - [La-la-lay, lai, lai]
In another rendition he sings instead:
Espanol I can't talk-o but that ent require-o to do it for you
If you sing the chorus with I - La-la-lay, lai, lai

Well, the crowd started making noise but I wasn't too sure
If it is they booing me or if they wanted more
When I turned 'round to leave the stage, I heard a big uproar
They shouting, "Myron, come back boy! Give we an encore!"
I didn't know what else to sing, the promoter run to mih face
He tell me I better do something, that crowd go mash up de place
When I went back on, I thinking what I should say
That's when I decide to tell them what I eat for lunch today.

I eat a burrito with ochro and two mashed potato wearing my sombrero
So sing the chorus with I - [La-la-lay, lai, lai]
Then I went to mi casa, eat two ripe banana with mucho bandanya
So sing de chorus with I - [La-la-lay, lai, lai]

If you see people start to misbehave, dancing up a storm
Some climb up on top the stage, some all on the ground
An old man throw he hands up and shouting, "This music well sweet."
Next thing he all on the ground looking for he false teeth
Ah see ah fellah grab a girl, two ah dem dancing weird
He swinging the woman all around and she weave fly off she head
Then I realise, I had plenty more thing to sing
Now let me describe the kind of dance them people doing

They dancing the rhumba, the cha-cha, lambada bonita, baila passa-passa
So sing the chorus with I - [La-la-lay, lai, lai]
The old man lost he teetho and he start to cryo when I do my thingo
So sing the chorus with I - [La-la-lay, lai, lai]

La-la-lai, la-la-lai, la-la-lai
La-la-lai, la-la-lai, la-la-lai
La-la-lai, la-la-lai, la-la-lai
La-la-lai, la-la-lai, la-la-lai
Source: The lyrics posted on this blog are often transcribed directly from performances. Although it is my intention to faithfully transcribe I do not get all the words and I have a knack for hearing the wrong thing. Please feel free to correct me or to fill in the words that I miss by dropping me a message via e-mail. I'd be forever grateful. Thanks in advance!
.............................................................................................A Note From The Gull

Thank you, Myron B.

This is just pure energy, pure fun delivered by a clear, confident voice and accompanied by great backup music. Like Crazy in his very popular "Mi Muchacha,"

"The other day I went Venezuela and I fall in love with a senoritaI hardly know the lingo but I really doh want she knowI try out ah old zeppo, see me making signal fuh so."

Myron B admits that he does not actually know how to speak/sing Spanish and like Crazy he improvises, stringing words together that he hopes will approximate the sound of spoken Spanish.

"I eat a burrito with ochro and two mashed potato, wearing my sombrero
So sing the chorus with I La-la-lay, lai, lai
Then I went to mi casa, eat two ripe banana with mucho bandanya
So sing de chorus with I La-la-lay, lai, lai"

Who is Myron B? I had no idea before I first encountered him on YouTube recently. He was singing "One Man Parang." I enjoyed that performance very much. I liked the originality of the idea behind the song and welcomed the fact that it was very refreshing, both his delivery and the story - something that hadn't already been beaten into cliche like many of the topics of soca-parang songs.

I hope that this Christmas, all Trinbagonians, inside and outside, who want a parang band to visit them will have their wish granted. For those of us who aren't so fortunate, Myron B's "One Man Parang" solution or just witnessing his irrepressible high spirits and good humour will have to do.

Thank you for the joy, Myron B . You make a promising and unique contribution to the soca parang scene.

"Patria est communis omnium parens" - Our native land is the common parent of us all. Keep it beautiful, make it even more so.

Blessed is all of creation
Blessed be my beautiful people
Blessed be the day of our awakening
Blessed is my country
Blessed are her patient hills.

Well, look I need a break from ham and black cake
So this Christmas I intend to chill
And I feel to eat some sweet wild meat
So this year I heading for the hills
Where folks smile as they meeting
Where a cock crowing doh stop de lime
Where, as they wish you "Season's Greetings!"
Same time they hand you some chive and thyme.

Ah heading for Paramin
For Christmas, Paramin, this Christmas
To hear a string bass and a mandolin
Paramin, is parang, Paramin, real parang
The kind that Daisy Voisin used to sing
Up dey you coulda canta, canta
Up dey you coulda baila, baila
Say, "Me gusta mucho, mucho." Ayee!
'Cause they have it genuine
Dancing, dancing, little children prancing, prancing
Everyone romancing
Take me back to Paramin.

Well boy, ah want to smell the real pastelle
Wrap in fig leaf, melting in your mouth
Ey, and I waiting too for the Mountain Dew
The one that bound to done as you bring it out
Where people bake bread in ah wood oven
Where they still boil ham in a pitchoil pan
Is as though you dead and you gone to heaven
'Cause everybody dey have a real sweet hand.

Ah going to Paramin
For Christmas, Paramin, this Christmas
To see ah old time creche fill with cherubim
Brother, is Paramin, for parang, Paramin, roots parang
The kind the Lara Brothers used to sing
Up dey ah go canta, canta
Up dey ah go baila, baila
Say, "Me gusta mucho, mucho."
You know they have it genuine
Dancing, dancing, little children prancing, prancing
Everyone romancing
Take me up to Paramin.

Oh gosh, ah tired hear about reindeer
About Jack Frost nipping at your nose
Is long time I want to sing a true Trini thing
So mih native talent I could expose
Where the people doh need plenty money
The true meaning of Christmas celebrates
Where, as you wake voices sweet as honey
Serenading you right outside your gate.

Go up to Paramin
For Christmas, Paramin, this Christmas
To hear a string bass and a mandolin
Ah going to Paramin
For parang, Paramin, sweet parang
The kind dat Daisy Voisin used to sing
Come up dey and canta, canta
Come up dey and baila, baila
Say, "Me gusta mucho, mucho."
They have it genuine
Dancing, dancing, little children prancing, prancing
Everyone romancing
Leh we go to Paramin!

Source:The lyrics posted on this blog are often transcribed directly from performances. Although it is my intention to faithfully transcribe I do not get all the words and I have a knack for hearing the wrong thing. Please feel free to correct me or to fill in the words that I miss by dropping me a message via e-mail. I'd be forever grateful. Thanks in advance!
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A Note From The Gull

I found this gem on Toronto Lime's collection of Caribbean Christmas music. Singing Sandra, you've done it again! One of the most refreshing soca parang songs that I've heard in a while.

I must admit that I've never been to Paramin so I am experiencing it vicariously through Singing Sandra's descriptions. These are the songs about Trinbago that I love, the ones that celebrate its people and places and creatures.

Thank you, Singing Sandra!

"Patria est communis omnium parens" - Our native land is the common parent of us all. Keep it beautiful, make it even more so.

Blessed is all of creation
Blessed be my beautiful people
Blessed be the day of our awakening
Blessed is my country
Blessed are her patient hills.

Christmas last year I spend in China
I had some fun in Chinatown
In front my door, out on the street
I heard music, it was sounding sweet
I looked outside to see who was playing
It was some Chinese playing music for me.

I opened my door and invite them in
The leader of the band start introducing
One name Ling Long, he write the song
One name Lin Sing, he kept on singing
Mister Ping Chang was the main cuatro man
Achong and Lee, they were backup for he.

The girls in the band sounding real sweet
I had no choice but to move my feet
Su Li on toc toc, Kim Loy on bass
Meiling dancing and rolling she waist
Mister Ping Chang kept on with he cuatro
But what they saying, I really don't know

I told them take a break and eat piece of cake
But they told me, "No,let's get on with the show."
When they finish sing, they came in my kitchen
And at my table, they were staring
I offer them ham, turkey and fowl
But all they wanted was Char Siu cat and pow.

Site statistics show that many visitors have been querying the site for this song. All I can say is that freedom of expression is certainly alive and well in Trinbago. This song was said to be the most popular soca parang song of the 2006 Christmas season and was awarded Soca Parang of the Year by the Copyright Organisation of Trinidad and Tobago. Personally, I wonder what Chinese residents and listeners think about these songs that we have composed over time which have as their focus, the "amusing" accents of Chinese English speakers or the sound of spoken Chinese.

I had a read on yesterday's papers
A cricket match with some Chinese players
I had a read on yesterday's papers
A cricket match with some Chinese players
They say the Indian people names funny
Nothing to beat the Chinee
As though the Chinese does get their names
By the beating of the steelband in Port of Spain.

I was in a lacouray
I reading 'bout the thing yesterday
I bit my tongue on several occasions
To make the right pronunciation
You must be graduated in China
To pronounce these Chinese names proper
Because, as I understand
They get their names through the sounding of a tin pan.

Chorus:
For is Ling Ting
Bowled and caught by Loong Pang
And Wing Ting
Got cleaned bowled by Poon Pang
And the whole Oval shout
When Loom Long get Wang Poon Ting Pang Poon out.

Wing Sing Ting, one of the umpires
He made a sign to the scorers
He said,"Ling ping ting pang ping loom long"
That meant that they made a short run
The Chins started a fighting
Saying the umpire was stealing
And friends, you could believe me
When I finish read, I was talking Chinee.

I had some Chinese friends with me today
Want me to sing Lifookeeay
Well I myself in production
It had me in one confusion
Up come Mister Loom Long
He said, "Dictator, meet Mister Poon Pong"
Well is then I really knew
What I read on the papers was really true

That was Dictator and the year was 1956. I was expecting that we would have outgrown the fascination by now but it might have something to do with that other more recent influx of Chinese labourers into our society. Who can tell? All that I can assume from their silence is that the Chinese among us seem to be taking it in stride and maybe even finding us equally, if not more amusing.

"Patria est communis omnium parens" - Our native land is the common parent of us all. Keep it beautiful, make it even more so.

Blessed is all of creation
Blessed be my beautiful people
Blessed be the day of our awakening
Blessed is my country
Blessed are her patient hills.

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"Patria est communis omnium parens" - Our native land is the common parent of us all. Keep it beautiful, make it even more so.

Blessed is all of creation
Blessed be my beautiful people
Blessed be the day of our awakening
Blessed is my country
Blessed are her patient hills.

Light up, light up, light up the entrance,Light up, light up, light up the entrance,It is customary at Christmas.Light up, light up, light up the entrance,Light up, light up, light up the entrance,Because I cannot sing in the darkness.

Light up, light up, light up the entrance,
Light up, light up, light up the entrance,
It is customary at Christmas.
Light up, light up, light up the entrance,
Light up, light up, light up the entrance,
Because I cannot sing in the darkness.

Light up, light up, light up the entrance,
Light up, light up, light up the entrance,
It is customary at Christmas.
Light up, light up, light up the entrance,
Light up, light up, light up the entrance,
Because I cannot sing in the darkness.

Light up, light up, light up the entrance,
Light up, light up, light up the entrance,
It is customary at Christmas.
Light up, light up, light up the entrance,
Light up, light up, light up the entrance,
Because I cannot sing in the darkness.

Source:El Cuatro Venezolano This wonderful blog provides lyrics and chords for the cuatro for all the songs posted there. A recommended site for all T&T parranderos.
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A Note From The Gull

Thank you Los Tucusitos for a spirited performance!

"Patria est communis omnium parens" - Our native land is the common parent of us all. Keep it beautiful, make it even more so.

Blessed is all of creation
Blessed be my beautiful people
Blessed be the day of our awakening
Blessed is my country
Blessed are her patient hills.

Chorus:
Sereno sereno sereno sera | Sereno sereno sereno will be
Estos son serenos de la madrugá | These are serenos of the dawn
Sereno sereno sereno sera | Sereno sereno sereno will be
Estos son serenos de la madrugá. | These are serenos of the dawn.

A la medianoche salió el lucero | At midnight the star came out
Alumbró el camino al Dios verdadero | It lit up the way to the True God
A la medianoche salió el lucero | At midnight the star came out
Alumbró el camino al Dios verdadero. | It lit up the way to the True God

Chorus:
Sereno sereno sereno sera | Sereno sereno sereno will be
Estos son serenos de la madrugá | These are serenos of the dawn
Sereno sereno sereno sera | Sereno sereno sereno will be
Estos son serenos de la madrugá. | These are serenos of the dawn.

La Virgen Maria se va a Belen | The Virgin Mary is going to Bethlehem
Y nosotros todos vamonos tambien | And all of us also
La Virgen Maria se va a Belen | The Virgin Mary is going to Bethlehem
Y nosotros todos vamonos tambien; | And all of us also.

Chorus:
Sereno sereno sereno sera | Sereno sereno sereno will be
Estos son serenos de la madrugá | These are serenos of the dawn
Sereno sereno sereno sera | Sereno sereno sereno will be
Estos son serenos de la madrugá. | These are serenos of the dawn.

Instrumental

Chorus:
Sereno sereno sereno sera | Sereno sereno sereno will be
Estos son serenos de la madrugá | These are serenos of the dawn
Sereno sereno sereno sera | Sereno sereno sereno will be
Estos son serenos de la madrugá. | These are serenos of the dawn.

Nosotros nos vamos de aqui pa adelante | We are leaving here to go onwards
Tu llevas la vela somos caminantes | You take the candle, we are walkers
Nosotros nos vamos de aqui pa adelante | We are leaving here to go onwards
Tu llevas la vela somos caminantes | You take the candle, we are walkers.

Chorus:
Sereno sereno sereno sera | Sereno sereno sereno will be
Estos son serenos de la madrugá | These are serenos of the dawn
Sereno sereno sereno sera | Sereno sereno sereno will be
Estos son serenos de la madrugá. | These are serenos of the dawn.

Chorus:
Sereno sereno sereno sera | Sereno sereno sereno will be
Estos son serenos de la madrugá | These are serenos of the dawn
Sereno sereno sereno sera | Sereno sereno sereno will be
Estos son serenos de la madrugá. | These are serenos of the dawn...

Source: The lyrics posted on this blog are often transcribed directly from performances. Although it is my intention to faithfully transcribe I do not get all the words and I have a knack for hearing the wrong thing. Please feel free to correct me or to fill in the words that I miss by dropping me a message via e-mail. I'd be forever grateful. Thanks in advance!
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A Note From The Gull

Thank you Flores De San Jose!

I am not happy with my translation of the line: Sereno sereno sereno sera | Sereno sereno sereno will be. Does not make sense to me. Looking at other Venezuelan songs which contain a repetition of sereno, I found this on at the blog El Cuatro Venezolano. The song's title is Sereno and the line that is repeated throughout the song is, "Sereno, sereno ¿qué hora serán?" Could it be that our "Sereno sereno sereno sera" was originally "Sereno, sereno ¿qué hora serán?" I searched on the Internet and found out that in the past a sereno was a person like a neighbourhood watchman whowas paid towalk the streetsandreport anyproblems, monitor street lighting and in some cases to open doors so he had custody of keys. He would also announce the time. He would be armedwith a cluborpike,and would use awhistle toraise the alarm,if necessary. This figureexisted inSpainand some countriesin South America.InPeruthis service was called "serenazgo."SOURCE

I met a mister from Margarita and he wanted to take me to dinner
I said, "Dinner will be fine but now is Christmas timeAnd my table is well preparedSo I'll take you to my home instead."

Chorus:
I give him bread and ham together with a pastelle
Ginger beer, punch-a-creme and sorrel
A glass of local wine went to his head
He turned to me and said, "Oh yes, Trini Christmas is the best!"
[Is the best, is the best.
Trini Christmas is the best
Is the best, is the best!]

Then my big sister asked me to canta and we canta'd just for him to baila
He said, "Parang music sweet and I love the soca beat."
Dancing like if he going insane
Then he asked for more food again.

Chorus:
I give him bread and ham together with a pastelle
Ginger beer, punch-a-creme and sorrel
A glass of local wine went to his head
He turned to me and said, "Oh yes, Trini Christmas is the best!"
[Is the best, is the best.
Trini Christmas is the best
Is the best, is the best!]

Baila, baila, baila!...

I tell my visitor, "Come meet my Mama, my husband, my children, my Papa."
He was on a Christmas high but finally he said goodbye
When I thought he was leaving for sure
He sit down to eat some more.

Chorus:
I give him bread and ham together with a pastelle
Ginger beer, punch-a-creme and sorrel
A glass of local wine went to his head
He turned to me and said, "Oh yes, Trini Christmas is the best!"
[Is the best, is the best.
Trini Christmas is the best
Is the best, is the best!]

Source: The lyrics posted on this blog are often transcribed directly from performances. Although it is my intention to faithfully transcribe I do not get all the words and I have a knack for hearing the wrong thing. Please feel free to correct me or to fill in the words that I miss by dropping me a message via e-mail. I'd be forever grateful. Thanks in advance!
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For unto us a Child was born
For unto us an ever-loving Son
Like a thief in the night
He shown His light
For He meant no harm
He came to save us from damnation

Hurray, hurray, hurrah! Hurrah, hurrah! they say
Our Saviour is born today!
In swaddling clothes He lie
While the shepherds cry
For they just couldn't believe dey eyes
And when He come a Man
You know dem non-Christians
Get together and pound nails in He hand
But on the third day, He rose again
So you see, He shed His blood for we.

A Child of joy, a Man who toiled
Who for our sins, the Saviour fought and win
See Him healing the sick, helping the poor
And things like leprosy, you know our Saviour cure?

Hurray, hurray, hurrah! Hurrah, hurrah! they say
Our Savior is born today!
In swaddling clothes He lie
While the shepherds cry
For they just couldn't believe dey eyes
And when He come a Man
You know dem non-Christians
Get together and pound nails in He hand
But on the third day, He rose again
So you see, He shed His blood for we.

He was conceived, so said and done
All Three in One, a truly blessed Son
He displayed His own skill and Father's will
So when we are at fault, we know that He love us still.

Hurray, hurray hurrah! Hurrah, hurrah! they say
Our Saviour is born today!
In swaddling clothes He lie
While the shepherds cry
For they just couldn't believe dey eyes
And when He come a Man
You know dem non-Christians
Get together and pound nails in He hand
But on the third day, He rose again
So you see, He shed His blood for we.

The Good Book say, the time is now
The signs are here, all should kneel in prayer
Let take Him at His word, the Master say
The time to start is now, beginning on Christmas day

Hurray, hurray, hurrah! Hurrah, hurrah! they say
Our Saviour is born today!
In swaddling clothes He lie
While the shepherds cry
For they just couldn't believe dey eyes
And when He come a Man
You know dem non-Christians
Get together and pound nails in He hand
But on the third day, He rose again
So you see, He shed His blood for we. Ayeee!

Source: The lyrics posted on this blog are often transcribed directly from performances. Although it is my intention to faithfully transcribe I do not get all the words and I have a knack for hearing the wrong thing. Please feel free to correct me or to fill in the words that I miss by dropping me a message via e-mail. I'd be forever grateful. Thanks in advance!
.............................................................................................

A Note From The Gull

Thank you Singing Francine.

"Patria est communis omnium parens" - Our native land is the common parent of us all. Keep it beautiful, make it even more so.

Blessed is all of creation
Blessed be my beautiful people
Blessed be the day of our awakening
Blessed is my country
Blessed are her patient hills.

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Lord, Please walk beside me through this day. Clear the heavy air with the lightness of Your Presence. Guide my hands and steady my heart that I may give comfort when I cannot give hope, that I may give relief when I do not have a cure, and that I may radiate Your healing peace when the limits of science, time, and the human body overwhelm us all.Amen